Bhaer。
　　Danlookedhimstraightintheface，andansweredsteadily，“Yes，I
　　did。“
　　Amurmurwentroundthetable，Tommydroppedhismugwithacrash；Daisycriedout，“Iknewitwasn’tNat；“Nanbegantocry，andMrs。Jolefttheroom，lookingsodisappointed，sorry，andashamedthatDancouldnotbearit。Hehidhisfaceinhishandsamoment，thenthrewuphishead，squaredhisshouldersasifsettlingsomeloaduponthem，andsaid，withthedoggedlook，andhalf-resolute，half-recklesstonehehadusedwhenhefirstcame­；
　　“Ididit；nowyoumaydowhatyouliketome，butIwon’tsayanotherwordaboutit。“
　　“Noteventhatyouaresorry？“askedMr。Bhaer，troubledbythechangeinhim。
　　“Iain’tsorry。“
　　“I’llforgivehimwithoutasking，“saidTommy，feelingthatitwashardersomehowtoseebraveDandisgracedthantimidNat。
　　“Don’twanttobeforgiven，“returnedDan，gruffly。
　　“Perhapsyouwillwhenyouhavethoughtaboutitquietlybyyourself，Iwon’ttellyounowhowsurprisedanddisappointedIam，butbyandbyIwillcomeupandtalktoyouinyourroom。“
　　“Won’tmakeanydifference，“saidDan，tryingtospeakdefiantly，butfailingashelookedatMr。Bhaer’ssorrowfulface；and，takinghiswordsforadismissal，Danlefttheroomasifhefounditimpossibletostay。
　　Itwouldhavedonehimgoodifhehadstayed；fortheboystalkedthematteroverwithsuchsincereregret，andpity，andwonder，itmighthavetouchedandwonhimtoaskpardon。Noonewasgladtofindthatitwashe，notevenNat；for，spiteofallhisfaults，andtheyweremany，everyonelikedDannow，becauseunderhisroughexteriorlaysomeofthemanlyvirtueswhichwemostadmireandlove。Mrs。Johadbeenthechiefprop，aswellascultivator，ofDan；andshetookitsadlytoheartthatherlastandmostinterestingboyhadturnedoutsoill。Thetheftwasbad，butthelyingaboutit，andallowinganothertosuffersomuchfromanunjustsuspicionwasworse；andmostdiscouragingofallwastheattempttorestorethemoneyinanunderhandway，foritshowednotonlyawantofcourage，butapowerofdeceitthatbodedillforthefuture。Stillmoretryingwashissteadyrefusaltotalkofthematter，toaskpardon，orexpressanyremorse。Dayspassed；andhewentabouthislessonsandhiswork，silent，grim，andunrepentant。AsiftakingwarningbytheirtreatmentofNat，heaskednosympathyofanyone，rejectedtheadvancesoftheboys，andspenthisleisurehoursroamingaboutthefieldsandwoods，tryingtofindplaymatesinthebirdsandbeasts，andsucceedingbetterthanmostboyswouldhavedone，becauseheknewandlovedthemsowell。
　　“Ifthisgoesonmuchlonger，I’mafraidhewillrunawayagain，forheistooyoungtostandalifelikethis，“saidMr。Bhaer，quitedejectedatthefailureofallhisefforts。
　　“AlittlewhileagoIshouldhavebeenquitesurethatnothingwouldtempthimaway，butnowIamreadyofanything，heissochanged，“answeredpoorMrs。Jo，whomournedoverherboyandcouldnotbecomforted，becauseheshunnedhermorethananyoneelse，andonlylookedatherwiththehalf-fierce，half-imploringeyesofawildanimalcaughtinatrap，whenshetriedtotalktohimalone。
　　Natfollowedhimaboutlikeashadow，andDandidnotrepulsehimasrudelyashedidothers，butsaid，inhisbluntway，“Youareallright；don’tworryaboutme。Icanstanditbetterthanyoudid。“
　　“ButIdon’tliketohaveyouallalone，“Natwouldsay，sorrowfully。
　　“Ilikeit；“andDanwouldtrampaway，stiflingasighsometimes，forhewaslonely。
　　Passingthroughthebirchgroveoneday，hecameuponseveraloftheboys，whowereamusingthemselvesbyclimbingupthetreesandswingingdownagain，astheyslenderelasticstemsbenttilltheirtopstouchedtheground。Danpausedaminutetowatchthefun，withoutofferingtojoininit，andashestoodthereJacktookhisturn。Hehadunfortunatelychosentoolargeatree；forwhenheswungoff，itonlybentalittleway，andlefthimhangingatadangerousheight。
　　“Goback；youcan’tdoit!“calledNedfrombelow。
　　Jacktried，butthetwigsslippedfromhishands，andhecouldnotgethislegsroundthetrunk。Hekicked，andsquirmed，andclutchedinvain，thengaveitup，andhungbreathless，sayinghelplessly，­；
　　“Catchme!helpme!Imustdrop!“
　　“You’llbekilledifyoudo，“criedNed，frightenedoutofhiswits。
　　“Holdon!“shoutedDan；andupthetreehewent，crashinghiswayalongtillhenearlyreachedJack，whosefacelookedupathim，fulloffearandhope。
　　“You’llbothcomedown，“saidNed，dancingwithexcitementontheslopeunderneath，whileNatheldouthisarms，inthewildhopeofbreakingthefall。
　　“That’swhatIwant；standfromunder，“answeredDan，coolly；and，ashespoke，hisaddedweightbentthetreemanyfeetnearertheearth。
　　Jackdroppedsafely；butthebirch，lightenedofhalfitsload，flewupagainsosuddenly，thatDan，intheactofswingingroundtodropfeetforemost，losthisholdandfellheavily。
　　“I’mnothurt，allrightinaminute，“hesaid，sittingup，alittlepaleanddizzy，astheboysgatheredroundhim，fullofadmirationandalarm。
　　“You’reatrump，Dan，andI’meversomuchobligedtoyou，“criedJack，gratefully。
　　“Itwasn’tanything，“mutteredDan，risingslowly。
　　“Isayitwas，andI’llshakehandswithyou，thoughyouare­；，“
　　Nedcheckedtheunluckywordonhistongue，andheldouthishand，feelingthatitwasahandsomethingonhispart。
　　“ButIwon’tshakehandswithasneak；“andDanturnedhisbackwithalookofscorn，thatcausedNedtorememberthebrook，andretirewithundignifiedhaste。
　　“Comehome，oldchap；I’llgiveyoualift；“andNatwalkedawaywithhimleavingtheotherstotalkoverthefeattogether，towonderwhenDanwould“comeround，“andtowishoneandallthatTommy’s“confoundedmoneyhadbeeninJerichobeforeitmadesuchafuss。“
　　WhenMr。Bhaercameintoschoolnextmorning，helookedsohappy，thattheboyswonderedwhathadhappenedtohim，andreallythoughthehadlosthismindwhentheysawhimgostraighttoDan，and，takinghimbybothhands，sayallinonebreath，asheshookthemheartily，­；
　　“Iknowallaboutit，andIbegyourpardon。Itwaslikeyoutodoit，andIloveyouforit，thoughit’sneverrighttotelllies，evenforafriend。“
　　“Whatisit？“criedNat，forDansaidnotaword，onlylifteduphishead，asifaweightofsomesorthadfallenoffhisback。
　　“DandidnottakeTommy’smoney；“andMr。Bhaerquiteshoutedit，hewassoglad。
　　“Whodid？“criedtheboysinachorus。
　　Mr。Bhaerpointedtooneemptyseat，andeveryeyefollowedhisfinger，yetnoonespokeforaminute，theyweresosurprised。
　　“Jackwenthomeearlythismorning，butheleftthisbehindhim；“andinthesilenceMr。Bhaerreadthenotewhichhehadfoundtiedtohisdoor-handlewhenherose。“ItookTommy’sdollar。Iwaspeekinginthroughacrackandsawhimputitthere。Iwasafraidtotellbefore，thoughIwantedto。Ididn’tcaresomuchaboutNat，butDanisatrump，andIcan’tstanditanylonger。
　　Ineverspentthemoney；it’sunderthecarpetinmyroom，rightbehindthewashstand。I’mawfulsorry。Iamgoinghome，anddon’tthinkIshallevercomeback，soDanmayhavemythings。“JACK“Itwasnotanelegantconfession，beingbadlywritten，muchblotted，andveryshort；butitwasapreciouspapertoDan；and，whenMr。Bhaerpaused，theboywenttohim，saying，inaratherbrokenvoice，butwithcleareyes，andthefrank，respectfulmannertheyhadtriedtoteachhim，­；
　　“I’llsayI’msorrynow，andaskyoutoforgiveme，sir。“
　　“Itwasakindlie，Dan，andIcan’thelpforgivingit；butyouseeitdidnogood，“saidMr。Bhaer，withahandoneithershoulder，andafacefullofreliefandaffection。
　　“ItkepttheboysfromplaguingNat。That’swhatIdiditfor。Itmadehimrightdownmiserable。Ididn’tcaresomuch，“explainedDan，asifgladtospeakoutafterhishardsilence。
　　“Howcouldyoudoit？Youarealwayssokindtome，“falteredNat，feelingastrongdesiretohughisfriendandcry。Twogirlishperformances，whichwouldhavescandalizedDantothelastdegree。
　　“It’sallrightnow，oldfellow，sodon’tbeafool，“hesaid，swallowingthelumpinhisthroat，andlaughingoutashehadnotdoneforweeks。
　　“DoesMrs。Bhaerknow？“heasked，eagerly。
　　“Yes；andsheissohappyIdon’tknowwhatshewilldotoyou，“beganMr。Bhaer，butgotnofarther，forheretheboyscamecrowdingaboutDaninatumultofpleasureandcuriosity；butbeforehehadansweredmorethanadozenquestions，avoicecriedout，­；
　　“ThreecheersforDan!“andtherewasMrs。Jointhedoorwaywavingherdish-towel，andlookingasifshewantedtodanceajigforjoy，assheusedtodowhenagirl。
　　“Nowthen，“criedMr。Bhaer，andledoffarousinghurrah，whichstartledAsiainthekitchen，andmadeoldMr。Robertsshakehisheadashedroveby，saying，­；
　　“SchoolsarenotwhattheywerewhenIwasyoung!“
　　Danstooditprettywellforaminute，butthesightofMrs。Jo’sdelightupsethim，andhesuddenlyboltedacrossthehallintotheparlor，whithersheinstantlyfollowed，andneitherwereseenforhalfanhour。
　　Mr。Bhaerfounditverydifficulttocalmhisexcitedflock；and，seeingthatlessonswereanimpossibilityforatime，hecaughttheirattentionbytellingthemthefineoldstoryofthefriendswhosefidelitytooneanotherhasmadetheirnamesimmortal。Theladslistenedandremembered，forjustthentheirheartsweretouchedbytheloyaltyofahumblerpairoffriends。Theliewaswrong，butthelovethatprompteditandthecouragethatboreinsilencethedisgracewhichbelongedtoanother，madeDanaherointheireyes。Honestyandhonorhadanewmeaningnow；agoodnamewasmorepreciousthangold；foroncelostmoneycouldnotbuyitback；
　　andfaithinoneanothermadelifesmoothandhappyasnothingelsecoulddo。
　　Tommyproudlyrestoredthenameofthefirm；NatwasdevotedtoDan；
　　andalltheboystriedtoatonetobothforformersuspicionandneglect。
　　Mrs。Jorejoicedoverherflock，andMr。BhaerwasnevertiredoftellingthestoryofhisyoungDamonandPythias。CHAPTERXVINTHEWILLOW
　　Theoldtreesawandheardagoodmanylittlescenesandconfidencesthatsummer，becauseitbecamethefavoriteretreatofallthechildren，andthewillowseemedtoenjoyit，forapleasantwelcomealwaysmetthem，andthequiethoursspentinitsarmsdidthemallgood。IthadagreatdealofcompanyoneSaturdayafternoon，andsomelittlebirdreportedwhatwentonthere。
　　FirstcameNanandDaisywiththeirsmalltubsandbitsofsoap，fornowandthentheywereseizedwithatidyfit，andwashedupalltheirdolls’clothesinthebrook。Asiawouldnothavethem“sloppinground“
　　inherkitchen，andthebath-roomwasforbiddensinceNanforgottoturnoffthewatertillitoverflowedandcamegentlydrippingdownthroughtheceiling。Daisywentsystematicallytowork，washingfirstthewhiteandthenthecoloredthings，rinsingthemnicely，andhangingthemtodryonacordfastenedfromonebarberry-bushtoanother，andpinningthemupwithasetoftinyclothes-pinsNedhadturnedforher。ButNanputallherlittlethingstosoakinthesametub，andthenforgotthemwhileshecollectedthistledowntostuffapillowforSemiramis，QueenofBabylon，asonedollwasnamed。Thistooksometime，andwhenMrs。Giddy-gaddycametotakeoutherclothes，deepgreenstainsappearedoneverything，forshehadforgottenthegreensilkliningofacertaincape，anditscolorhadsoakednicelyintothepinkandbluegowns，thelittlechemises，andeventhebestruffledpetticoat。
　　“Ohme!whatamess!“sighedNan。